Hong Kong ’rabbit cafe’ hops onto high street (260)

HONG KONG – The newest addition to Hong Kong’scafe scene is taking a soft approach to business – with 12 resident rabbitsfor customers to pet.

The "Rabbitland" bunnies munch on grass while visitors coo over thembetween sips of tea and bites of toasted sandwich.

Tucked away on the third floor of a high-rise in the busy commercialdistrict of Causeway Bay, the cafe says it gives people who have no room tokeep a pet in space-starved Hong Kong the chance to bond with the fluffyanimals.

Most of the rabbits have been abandoned by previous owners.

Hong Kong already has a number of "cat cafes", but this is the first onefor rabbits, inspired by a similar shop in Japan.

"I like how soft they are and like their fur and how gentle they are whenyou feed them," says Natalie Chan, 11, whose mother had brought her to find outmore about keeping rabbits as she wants one as a pet.

There are a list of rules about how to behave around the animals, includingnot picking them up or pulling their ears.

Co-founder Teddy Chui, 29, says anyone who does not obey the rules is askedto leave.

The "Rabbitland" bunnies are not for sale, but Chui says a visit helpschildren understand what looking after one would involve.

"A lot of parents bring their kids here if they want to buy a rabbit, sothey know it’s not all about playing with them – it’s a lot of work andresponsibility," says Chui. — AFP